Drop-off for Operation Christmas Child outreach at Oak Grove Baptist

Posted on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:59 pm

This holiday season, Colonial Beach residents are working to brighten the lives of millions of needy children around the world. Right now, volunteers are preparing for the collection of 1,400 gift-filled shoe boxes—Colonial Beach’s target contribution to the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child.

Nov. 12–19, Oak Grove Baptist Church in Colonial Beach will be bustling with activity as 1,400 shoe boxes packed full of goodies for needy kids overseas are dropped off by local individuals and families.

While most people in the U.S. are preparing for holiday activities, Colonial Beach volunteers with Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind—are filling shoe box gifts with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas. This year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, is ramping up as local businesses, churches and community groups prepare to collect 1,400 gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week (Nov. 12 – 19).

Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at the Colonial Beach-area collection site (address and hours below). Then, using whatever means necessary—trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants—the shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to hurting children in 100 countries around the world.